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Do you know how much you are worth to the city of Chillicothe?
In dollars, those who reside within city limits equal about $100 per person per month.
How many $100s the city receives is determined every 10 years by the census.
“Census to the city means dollars — the more people, the more money,” said office manager Denise Passage.
That revenue assists the city in its budget, including road work.
The 2010 census questionnaire is expected to be in residents’ mailboxes in mid-March, and is to be returned by April 1.
Only 10 questions appear on the form for the head of household, and then seven questions for each person also residing in the home.
There are no questions about income or anyone’s Social Security number.
Ten years ago, the city boasted a high 87 percent initial response, and city officials said they hope residents will do the same again.
In 2000, there were both a long and short form that residents randomly received. This year, only the short form will be used.
The long form, however, is now the American Community Survey, which is a way of collecting extra information about residents, including questions about income, home value and education.
About 250,000 households receive the survey every month, but it does not take the place of the census, according to the census bureau.
Census committee chairwoman Sandi Levell said she expects Chillicothe’s population to be about the same.
Chillicothe’s count in 2000 was 5,959.
Passage said she hopes for growth, but with statistics for the size of families declining, the number may be about the same.
“We’re hopeful,” said Passage. “We’d like to get over the 6,000 mark. It’s hard to know.”
With the current economy, some residents may be in foreclosure or moving due to jobs.
By law, the census bureau cannot share its results with law enforcement or other agencies.
“Don’t be scared,” said Passage. “It’s very important. We don’t need a decline in another source of revenue.”
The census is important not to just the city, however.
“It benefits not only your local community but your state as well,” said Passage.
Levell said it is easy to forget that population also determines the number of representatives Illinois has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
To help get the word out in town are Ben Alvarez of Pearce Community Center, as well as alderman and volunteer firemen Alex Block. Levell will be getting information to the schools.
